A transmitter housing apparatus for the containment of a probe in a directional underground drilling device, the transmitter housing having a housing with first and second ends and a longitudinally extending bore for receiving the probe, the housing having a first detent near the first end. A cover member is slidingly engaged by the first by the first detent to cover the bore and to secure the probe in the housing. A sub member engages the second end of the housing to secure the cover member on the housing. A positioning member is disposed in the bore and engages the probe for rotationally positioning the probe in a desired orientation in the bore of the housing. A plurality of slots or the like are provided in the housing for selectively orienting the probe. Also, the housing has a passageway for fluid flow, and has a plurality of slots to permit signal transmission by the probe.
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1. An apparatus for housing a probe on a directional underground drilling device comprising:
a housing having first and second ends and having a longitudinally extending bore for receiving the probe, wherein the housing comprises a first detent near the first end; a cover member, slidingly engaging the first detent, for securing the probe within the housing; and a sub that threadably engages the second end of the housing for securing the cover member on the housing.
12. An apparatus for housing a probe on a directional underground drilling device comprising:
a housing having first and second ends and having a longitudinally extending bore for receiving the probe, comprising: a first detent near the first end; and a second detent near the second end; a cover member, slidingly engaging the first and second detents, for securing the cover member to the housing; a positioning member engaging the probe for properly positioning the probe within the housing; and a sub that threadably engages the second end of the housing for securing the probe within the housing.
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a positioning member engaging the probe for properly positioning the probe within the housing.
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This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 60/114,202 entitled "Housing For Supporting A Transmitting Probe In A Directional Underground Drilling Apparatus" and filed Dec. 28, 1998.
This invention relates generally to the field of subterranean horizontal and directional drilling, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a transmitter housing for supporting a transmitting probe or sonde used to steer and direct a drilling apparatus.
Recent advances in directional underground drilling offers significant advantages over earlier methods in a number of applications. Underground directional drilling eliminates the need for trenching and backfilling in laying pipeline and other utilities. Underground directional drilling furthermore provides greater flexibility and increased opportunities for subterranean drilling, such as in the drilling for subterranean fluids and in core sampling.
Many differing approaches have been undertaken in the development of underground directional drilling. Generally, a cutting tool is advanced at a distal end of a drill string. A drilling fluid, such as water, is flowed through the drill string, over the cutting tool, and back up the bore hole in order to remove cuttings and debris as the bore is created. A transmitting probe typically is employed in the drill string near the cutting tool in order to monitor the location of the cutting tool, and to steer and direct the cutting tool.
The type of transmitting probe employed varies, depending on the nature of the boring environment and the relative boring accuracy needed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,463 issued to Geller, for example, teaches the use of an active beam radio transmitter in conjunction with a tracking receiver above ground. Alternatively, U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,354 issued to Stump teaches a ground penetrating radar unit wherein the transmitter generates a specific signature signal in response to a probe signal from the radar unit above ground.
The type of cutting action employed also varies. U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,941 issued to Ritter teaches the widely used impact method for directional tunneling. Numerous improvements to this early teaching have been made in the art, such as provided in the hammering method of directional drilling wherein the cutting head is not rotated, such as is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,913 issued to McDonald, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,932 issued to Breter.
Where these general advancements in the art generally require the support of a transmitter near the impact-cutting head of the drilling apparatus, such a requirement presents challenging difficulties. The rotational and axial position of the transmitter must be provided for and maintained, without damaging the relatively delicate transmitter. Conventional fasteners, also, have demonstrated the propensity to vibrate loose during the repeated impact cycles of hammering, resulting in erroneous readings, as well as lost and damaged transmitters.
There is a need in the industry for a transmitter housing that is disposable in the drill string and that, in turn, receivingly supports a conventional transmitting probe in a reliable manner, not relying on conventional fasteners such as threaded screws to support or enclose the transmitting probe.
The present invention provides a transmitter housing for the containment of a probe in a directional underground drilling device, the transmitter housing having a housing with first and second ends and a longitudinally extending bore for receiving the probe, the housing having a first detent near the first end. A cover member is slidingly engaged by the first by the first detent to cover the bore and to secure the probe in the housing. A sub member engages the second end of the housing to secure the cover member on the housing.
A positioning member is disposed in the bore and engages the probe for rotationally positioning the probe in a desired orientation in the bore of the housing. Preferably, the housing has a plurality of slots or the like for selectively orienting the probe.
The housing has a passageway for fluid flow, and has a plurality of slots to permit the signal transmission.
The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be clear upon reading the description provided together with the drawings and appended claims.
Referring to the drawings in general, and in particular to
The transmitter housing assembly 100 generally has a housing 102 that is connectable at one end to a drill string (not shown) and at its other end to any one of various selected drilling tools (not shown). In the embodiment illustrated in
Turning to the sectional view of
The housing 102 has a number of laterally extending slots 112 that provide transmission channels for passage of the signals from the sonde 110 to the subterranean environment. The housing 102 also has a number of longitudinal passageways 114 to provide a water jacket for circulating drilling fluids to the mud motor or other selected drilling tool a during drilling operation.
A locking cover 116 is provided for closing the cavity 108 and thus to enclose the housing 102 to retain the sonde 110 therein. The locking cover 116 has an arcuate surface 118 that matingly cooperates with the cavity 108 to support the sonde 110, and the locking cover 116 has a slot 120 that serves the same function as that of the signal transmission slots 112 described above. That is, the laterally extending slot 120 that provides a transmission channel for passage of signals from the sonde 110 to the subterranean environment. The manner in which the sonde 110 is positionally supported within the housing 102 is addressed by the present invention below.
The locking cover 116 depicted in
When positioned on the housing 102, the locking cover 116 is disposed so that a sliding surface 146 thereof is supported on the longitudinal surface 134 of the housing 102. The locking cover 116 is then slidingly displaced toward the threaded end 104 of the housing 102 to engage an upper tab 148 of the locking cover 116 into the detent 132, and simultaneously to engage a pair of lower tabs 150 of the locking cover 116 into the detents 138. The locking cover 116 is thus lockingly engaged in the housing 102 to support the sonde 110 without the use of fasteners. The locking cover 116 is retained in this locking engagement by attaching the locking sub 106 to the housing 102, with the counterbore 126 providing a close fitting relationship about the diameter 130 of the housing 102 and the radius 144 of the locking cover 116.
In view of the foregoing discussion, it will be understood that the present invention is directed to a transmitter housing (such as 100) having a housing (such as 102) that receivingly supports a sonde (such as 110) and rotationally positions the sonde by a supporting rotational positioning member (such as 152, 164). A locking cover (such as 116) lockingly engages the housing 102 to secure the sonde, the locking cover having upper and lower tabs (such as 148, 150) that slidingly engage receiving detents (such as 132, 138), thus not requiring conventional fasteners to attach the locking cover to the housing. With the locking cover in place, a locking sub (such as 106) threadably engages a lower end of the housing, the locking sub having a counterbore (such as 126) that captures and retains the locking cover to retain the locking engagement of the locking cover within the housing.
It will be clear that the present invention is well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes can be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed in the spirit of the invention disclosed and as defined in the appended claims.
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